Five final Michigan recruiting thoughts from swing through DMV

Five Michigan recruiting thoughts from my time on the road…

1. Baxter has huge upside

Game clips of On300 Brandywine (Md.) Gwynn Park EDGE Devon Baxter didn’t do him justice this week. The Michigan commit faced an extremely run-heavy team and was never able to truly pin his ears back and get after the quarterback. Still, I fully believe Baxter has the biggest ceiling in the class. His size pops out right away, and the fact that he has a basketball background and starts at tight end for his high school team makes him even more intriguing. While I’ve called him a high ceiling, low floor kid, Baxter’s floor is raised a bit by his high football IQ. I think he’s one of the smartest kids in the class and really understands the game — no surprise since he grew up playing quarterback and his father is a coach. Like On3, I see him as a Top 200 prospect.

2. Florida State emerges for Nichols

Michigan is fighting to keep its EDGE class intact. While Baxter remains solid, the Wolverines still have some work to do with three-star commit Dominic Nichols. Clemson and Wisconsin have largely been talked about as the biggest threats for Nichols, but Florida State has emerged as an intriguing team to watch in this recruitment. Florida State recently got back in contact, and the Seminoles have had success in the DMV this cycle, landing wide receiver Elijah Moore and EDGE DD Holmes. Florida State is also NIL friendly. While Nichols told me he is still solid with Michigan, I do think the Florida State situation is one worth monitoring.

3. Nichols will be bigger EDGE

If Michigan is able to keep Nichols, he will be a bigger EDGE in Ann Arbor in the same mold as Mike Morris. In fact, Michigan staffer Dylan Roney told Nichols to keep a close eye on Braiden McGregor throughout the season. That’s how Michigan envisions Nichols, who has cut a bit of weight and looked more athletic than expected last weekend. Nichols has the frame to add more weight the right way while maintaining that aforementioned athleticism. On3 lists Nichols as a defensive lineman, but again, the Wolverines have no intentions to have him play with his hand in the dirt. While he’s a three-star prospect across the board, there is a reason other programs are continuing to push for him.

4. Delhomme a big target in 25

The lack of buzz in the 2025 recruiting class has been frustrating. However, we’re getting to the point where Michigan fans really need to start getting familiar with big targets in the 2025 recruiting class, including four-star safety Messiah Delhomme out of Newport News (Va.) Warwick. I’ve been told that both Michigan defensive coordinator Jesse Minter and safeties coach Jay Harbaugh love this kid. They brought him in for the BBQ at The Big House this summer, and, as I reported this week, Michigan is in his Top 2 along with Florida State. I’m also on the Delhomme bandwagon and believe he’ll finish as a Top 250 prospect by the end of next cycle.

5. Tidewater a region on the rise

Just south of the DMV is the Tidewater region of Virginia. Norfolk, Virginia Beach and other surrounding cities are producing plenty of talent, and Michigan has taken notice. Minter and Harbaugh both spent time in the area during the spring evaluation period, and, of course, the Wolverines pulled in Brandyn Hillman from the region last cycle — Hillman may be the biggest steal of 2023. Michigan is looking to build on the Hillman win and is already high on the list for Delhomme as well as three-star nickel target Jahmari Deloatch, who also visited for the BBQ. Michigan also has offers out to elite EDGE Ari Watford and four-star athlete Kendall Daniels. The state of Virginia, as a whole, is loaded in 2026, and Michigan is capable of landing a few targets in each of the next two cycles.

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